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Finance operations

Close the month with less chasing.

Standardise close preparation, evidence and exception routing while finance retains judgement and sign-off.

For founder-led businesses where close depends on a person's memory, scattered checklists and late follow-ups. Clerq first maps the accounting workflow and control requirements, then recommends only the automation the evidence supports.

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Plain-English definition

Month-end close automation standardises evidence collection, reconciliation preparation and exception routing while finance retains review and sign-off.

How the Diagnostic tests it

Signs the close is too fragile

  • The checklist lives in one person's head or a private spreadsheet.
  • Evidence is requested repeatedly through email and Slack.
  • Reconciliations start late because source data is incomplete.
  • Reviewers cannot see what changed, who approved it or what remains open.

What the target workflow does

  • Creates the close timetable, owners and dependencies from an approved template.
  • Checks expected inputs and assembles supporting evidence.
  • Flags missing, unusual or unreconciled items for review.
  • Maintains a visible status and approval record through final sign-off.
Controls and ownership

Finance still owns the number.

Automation can organise and test evidence. It should not make unreviewed accounting judgements.

Area
Automated preparation
Human control
Close timetable
Create tasks, dependencies, reminders and status.
Finance sets the calendar and approves changes.
Evidence
Collect expected reports and identify gaps.
Task owners confirm completeness and validity.
Reconciliations
Run agreed comparisons and surface exceptions.
Finance investigates and approves resolutions.
Sign-off
Compile the close pack and approval trail.
An authorised finance owner signs off the period.
Relevant systems

Use the tools already around your close.

Connections depend on your actual process. Systems already within Clerq's stated scope include:

XeroShopifySlackNotion

Start with a two-week Diagnostic.

Clerq reviews the close calendar, evidence, recurring reconciliations, hand-offs and approval structure. The output ranks the changes worth making and documents the controls each requires.

  • From £2,500
  • Roadmap can go to any builder
  • Three months of Run included after Build
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Questions

Month-end close FAQ

Does Clerq make accounting judgements?
No. The workflow can prepare evidence, apply approved tests and route exceptions. An authorised finance person remains responsible for accounting treatment and sign-off.
Can this work with Xero?
Xero is within the integrations already described by Clerq. The Diagnostic confirms the available data, permissions and surrounding systems before any connection is proposed.
Do we need a perfect close process first?
No, but unclear ownership and inconsistent policies must be resolved before they are automated. The Diagnostic identifies both process and technology changes.
Will the workflow post journals automatically?
Only if a specific, controlled use case is approved after review. The default design keeps judgemental entries and final approval with finance.
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Practical guide

Month-end close checklist

A controlled sequence for evidence, reconciliation, exceptions and sign-off.

Read →
Month-end close

Turn the close into a controlled workflow.

Start with a 20-minute fit call or review the illustrative Diagnostic first.

Get the Sample Diagnostic